Automobile signal



Nov. 7, 1933. H. G. HAPPY AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL Filed Feb. 18. 1932 F1 ZLRE 2 Q ii fasuhf/on 55 27 any 5 38 A 6 H. w 5 J 4 M u U 4 a w l m m mm m R zz m g 2% a ww/l R I u a 1 r Patented Nov. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates particularly to a device mountable upon a vehicle for the purpose of indicating its position or conveying a desired signal to the drivers of vehicles, or to pedestrians,

to the front or rear.

It is one object of the invention to provide a device of the character indicated in which all of the desired signals are mounted in one compact case, and operable to give the information desired without the adjustment of movable parts such as are common in devices of this type.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of the character indicated by means of which the desired signals may be simultaneously rendered visible to the drivers of vehicles and to pedestrians, both to the front and rear of the vehicle upon which the device is mounted.

It is also an object to provide a device of the character indicated in which the closures or windows are so constructed and mounted as to be securely and firmly held at all times without the necessity of providing latches or similar fastenings, and that cannot become accidentally detached. I

It is still another object to provide a coin trolling switch for the lamps in the several compartments of the signal case that will be operative to light the several lamps as desired.

Finally, it is an object to provide a complete signal system of the character indicated that will be economical to manufacture, of few parts, simple in construction, light, strong, durable and compact, and highly efiicient in its practical application. I

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the signal case, partly broken away.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same and the switch case.

Figure 3 is a full size section on line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the switch mechanism with the cover removed and partly in section and including a diagram of the several lamp connections.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a plan View of the switch guide plate.

Figure '7 is an enlarged section of the portion A of Figure 3.

The main body of the device is in the form of a cross, the body of which is hollow, and in which the side walls of the vertical central portion are continuous thereby forming one long central chamber 1, and two shorter laterally directed chambers 2 and 3.

In each end of the longer vertical chamber is mounted an electric lamp as indicated at 4 and 5 respectively, and in each of the side arms is mounted an electric lamp as indicated at 6 and 7. The two lamps 4 and 5 are connected by a wire 8, and lamps 4, 6 and '7 are connected by wires 9, 10 and 11 to a source of electrical energy and a switching mechanism such as hereinafter described.

In the construction of the main body of the device, the front side edges of the side walls of the chamber 1 are turned outwardly to form guide flanges as indicated at,1212. The closure for this vertical central chamber comprises a metal frame 13 having one or more windows as 14 formed therein and fitted with glass of a suitable color, as green, shown at 15. The two side edges of this frame are turned backwardly and inwardly as indicated at 16 to form slides as at 17 adapted to engage flanges 12, and the top of the said frame is bent backwardly as at 18 to form a stop. The closure is placed or removed by sliding on flanges 12 from above.

Each of the side chamber walls have flanges as 19-19 formed on their upper and lower edges so to engage a sliding closure constructed, mounted and operated in a manner similar to the closure described as indicated at 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24, but the flanges 19 are in spaced relation to the plane of closure frame 13 to permit closures 20 5 to pass back of the same. The inner end of each closure 20 is provided with an outwardly turned flange 25 adapted to engage flanges 12.

The result of this construction is, that when the two side closures are in position the placing 0 of the vertical central closure locks them securely in place because the parts 16 overlap the end flanges 25 on the side closures and effectually prevents their withdrawal. By placing one lock as 26 in the position shown all of the closures are locked in place.

The device may be mounted upon any desired part of the vehicle as indicated at 27.

The switch mechanism comprises a base 28 of suitable insulating material and by means of 1 which it is mounted in a suitable position in the drivers compartment of the vehicle, the base and Working parts being covered by a cap 29.

Upon the base 28 are mounted four terminal plates of identical construction and disposed as 5 shown, one plate being described indetail and the others being indicated by similar figures followed by suitable letters.

The plate 30 is in the form of a right angle with an upstanding portion as 31 and 32 formed '1 on each end thereof and the upper end of each part 31, 32 having inwardly extending portions as 33, 34 disposed at right angles to each other as shown.

The plates 30, a, 30b, 300 are mounted on the base 28 in the form of a square with the opposing parts 33-3411, 33a-34b, 33b--34c, 33c--34 disposed in spaced and parallel relation to each other to receive the switch lever hereinafter described.

At 35 is a fifth plate connected to plates 30 and 30a as indicated at 36 and having an upwardly inclined spring end portion extending below the space between parts 33b-34c, as shown at 37.

The lamp 5 is connected to plate 30a by wire 9, the lamp 6 to plate 30b by wire 10, and the lamp 7 to plate 300 by the wire 11.

A bridge 38 is mounted on base 28'andconnected to a battery 39 by a wire 40. In the top of the said bridge 38 is mounted a lever or switch arm +11 by means of a universal joint at 42, the handle of the lever being of insulating material, and an insulating disc being inserted at 43. The switch arm passes through a plate 44 which is 7 provided with guide slots 45.

The result of the construction and arrangement described is that when the lever 41 is axially disposed relative to the base 28 none of the lamps are lighted. At night, however, the switch arm would be moved to enter the space between33 and 34a and by engaging said parts it would close the circuit and lightlamps 4and 5 thereby indicating that the vehicle intended to travel straight ahead. It the driver intends to stop, then he would throw the arm into the opposite direction to engageparts 33b, 34c and the end of plate 35, thereby maintaining the two central lights, which we will say are green, and at .the same time lighting both side lamps which of course would be red. A right turn would be indicated by throwing the arm into engagement with parts 33a-34b to light lamp 6, and a left turn by throwing the arm into engagement with parts 330-34 to light lamp '7.

With one of these devices mounted both upon the front and rear of a vehicle and controlled by the same switch mechanism, both pedestrians and the drivers of other vehicles are advised at all times as to the course the equipped vehicle is going to follow, because the right and left turn and the stop signals would be effective in the day time as well as at night.

It is to be understood, of course, that while I have herein shown and described but one specific embodiment of the invention, changes in form, construction, and method of assembly and operation may be made within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A switch mechanism of the character described comprising, a base member of insulating m t rial four terminal plates of identical const tie mounted thereon, each plate having upstandli end portions having inwardly extending portiox formed on their upper ends and disposed at ri ht angles to each other, the angular end portions or 1 ,a. each plate being disposed in opposed and spaced relation to the corresponding end portions of ail-- other plate whereby to form i'our radially posed switch contact sockets, a fifth plate c necting two of the first mentioned plates and tending under the socket formed by the other two plates, a housing for the plates mounted on th base, and a bridge mounted on the base to ove lie the center of the plate assembly, a switch arm swingably mounted in said bridge and movable 1 into engagement with the several sockets, a plate mounted on the bridge below the sw z i HARRISON G. HAPPY. 

